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Your DC Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 5, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

You with your enormous stack of mystery books from Capital Hill Books.

You with your enormous stack of mystery books from Capital Hill Books. (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

This holiday season, shop for gifts that Washingtonians actually want (no, we actually don’t want that ornament of the White House, tysm). Also, they all happen to be under $50.

Havee someone Brutiful in your life? This shirt depicting the D.C. metro is perfect. Or maybe they would prefer a “Fa La La L'Enfant Plaza” long sleeve? Either way, any transportation nerd is sure to love anything from Metro’s Pop-Up shop.

Get a personalized book grab bag curated by Capitol Hill Books. Tell them the recipient's favorite genres and a budget, and they will handpick and ship a pile of books from their stacks.

Each of the candles from this D.C.-based candle company come with a unique playlist that matches the scent's vibe. The “cozy” candle is perfect for long nights and cold days.

This watercolor illustration by D.C.’s favorite printmaker reads, “A Plate of Food is An Act of Peace.” All profits from this calendar will be donated to World Central Kitchen.

The chef behind two of my favorite D.C. restaurants, Maydān and Compass Rose, just came out with a beautiful new cookbook that takes readers through recipes from Lebanon to Morocco. Yours might not be quite as good as hers, but this will get you close.

One of D.C.’s best locally-roasted coffee brands sells a subscription box where they send their best roast every month to your gift recipient's doorstep (or yours, who are we kidding).

This “What’s More Punk Than the Public Library” tote will brand you as a Mt. Pleasant hipster for life. And we couldn’t be more thrilled about it.

What’s On Your Holiday Wish List?

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